Professor Blume's research is in mathematical aspects of the mechanics of solids, has been on the engineering faculty at Brown since 1986. She recently served as Director of Undergraduate Programs in Engineering and currently serves as Associate Dean of the Faculty.

Current research projects include a collaborative investigation of the mechanics of traumatic brain injury, and a mathematical study of the role of rotation fields in mechanical twinning.

Blume's contributions have been recognized with the Philip J. Bray medal for Excellence in Teaching in the Physical Sciences (1997), the Tau Beta Pi School of Engineering Dedicated Faculty Member Award (2009), and the Karen T. Romer Prize for Excellence in Advising (2011).